Summary



Rama fancied that Sita might perhaps be wandering on the banks of the Godavari gathering lotus flowers. Lakshmana went looking for her, but came back disappointed. Rama himself went, driven by an unbearable anxiety, which would not let him, rest. He asked the river, the birds, the beasts and every other form of life big and small if they had seen Sita. Rama's questions were not answered and none dared to reveal that Sita was gone, stolen by Ravana, the demon. The animals asked the river for news of their dear companion Sita. But the gurgling Godavari flowed on as though unconcerned, as fearful memories of Ravana's dreadful deeds and form still lingered deep in her. "Even my anguish does not move the Godavari," mused Rama, "How long will the nights be without Sita as I lie awake thinking of her? She was my solace and consolation in my exile and now she is lost. Where do you think I will find her Lakshmana? The animals of the forest seem to be eager to convey something to me". Rama then turned to the animals asking them if they had seen Sita. As if to answer his query they turned their heads towards the south, looking up at the sky. They started running, seeming to indicate the path by which Sita was borne away. Lakshmana sensed their signals and the underlying urgency. Together with Rama, he directed the search southwards. As they walked along Rama and Lakshmana found some flowers scattered on the path. The sight made Rama tremble, as he recognized them to be his gift to Sita on an earlier occasion. He said "Lakshmana, the Sun, the wind and the gentle earth guard these signs of Sita, in their kindness for me, I presume." Rama spotted a mountain and asked of it, "Have you seen my wife whose skin glows like gold?" Mute and lofty stood the hill! It only echoed Rama's words but did not show him Sita. It was then that the ever calm and composed Rama exploded into a towering rage. Respecting the code of honor, he had walked into the dreaded jungles of Dandaka. As if to test his patience Sita had disappeared and to make his misery complete there seemed to be no way of finding her. His fear and agony manifested into a fierce fury. Like a majestic lion upbraiding a lowly animal, Rama flayed the mountain! "The fire of my arrows shall reduce you to ashes! I will see that none will inhabit your slopes as you stand denuded of shady trees and green grasses. Even the waters of the Godavari shall run dry." So infuriated was Rama that his eyes became red with anger. He suddenly noticed the large footprints of a rakshasa and around it the impressions of small dainty feet that seemed to have been running around in fright. Rama also saw scattered arrows, quivers and fragments of a chariot. To his horror he recognized pieces of Sita's broken jewels and said "Lakshmana, look at these drops of blood. Sita must have perished as Rakshasas fought over her. See these signs of conflict! To whom does this broken sword belong and whose hand held this gem-studded shield that dazzles like the Sun? Here lies a mangled bow shattered and the pearls that had once adorned it roll on the ground. The royal umbrella festooned with celestial garlands, the demon headed donkeys and the immense gold tipped arrows lie in the dust. This unknown charioteer, whom death has claimed, still clutches the bridle and the whip. Why did not dharma save Sita as she was being abducted? Who would want to harm me? Creatures in their ignorance humiliate me, who am their guardian and well wisher. The gods seem to have mistaken my compassion, my kindness and my generosity, for my weakness. I shall fill the skies with my arrows, rendering all those who travel the worlds immobile! I will arrest the course of the planets. The moon shall lose its light and the sun shall be eclipsed! As the earth sinks into darkness, cities shall be razed to the ground, fires will be extinguished and winds stilled. Mountains will be reduced to rubble, oceans will dry and vegetation destroyed. If the gods do not return Sita, neither the worlds nor their creatures will survive. This very moment the world will witness my might! Chaos and fear will reign as my matchless arrows shower death. No devata, daitya, pisacha or rakshasa can face me as I devastate the worlds in my rage. None will survive and the boundaries of the earth will be wiped out"! Blazing like the doomsday fire he swore, "Lakshmana none can defy me when my anger is aroused. Either Sita is returned to me unharmed or the world with its mountains, its creatures and its creation shall be consigned to ruin this very moment".